In last week’s column I mentioned I don’t watch a lot of television. Some of y’all were curious what I do watch. So here goes.

First what I don’t watch: anything to do with singing, dancing, cooking or any other contests. I don’t understand how so many seemingly intelligent Americans fall for that garbage. I watch very few police shows. Frankly I find most of them outrageously stupid with “NCIS” topping the list. I know several NCIS agents. They are great investigators and good people. The show doesn’t do them justice.

I pretty much don’t watch anything with acronyms like “CSI” and “Law & Order: SVU.” The last typical procedural show I followed was the original “Law & Order,” but that was because I like Jeremy Sisto and Anthony Anderson.

OK. On to what I watch and why. I honestly don’t know why people like reality TV. I want pure escapism in my television viewing. I deal with stress and jerks and criminals and such all day. Why would I want to spend two hours at night staring at them on my TV screen?

When it comes to television I look for the far out and intense. I want compelling scripted storylines set in original locations with round, deep characters. For me that means five shows in no particular order:

“Game of Thrones” (HBO)

Based on George R.R. Martin’s masterpiece novels, “Game” takes you to the fantasy world of Westeros where anyone can be killed. And they ain’t kidding. The main character was beheaded in the penultimate episode of the show’s first season. How many TV programs can claim that?

It’s all about who can take and keep the Iron Throne — a seat made of melted swords of vanquished challengers. There are sword fights aplenty, sex, intrigue, betrayal and dragons. It may just be the best show ever made.

“The Walking Dead” (AMC)

A woeful tale of survivors in a zombie apocalyptic Atlanta area, the show is based on a series of graphic novels by Robert Kirkman. The characters here are just as deep as “Game” with the added stress of having to flee from an endless, relentless undead horde. The show strips away any vestige of civilization and shows the viewer just what a world without society would be like. Sure there are zombies, but they’re not even the real villains. The real bad guys are other humans. What would you be willing to do to save yourself and loved ones from such an unforgiving world? Oh, and the body count of main characters is higher than “Game.” That’s saying a lot.

“Justified” (FX)

With the show based on the work of novelist Elmore Leonard, rich characterization is expected — and delivered. “Justified” spends more time on the characterization of a minor character that is about to be shot dead in one episode than most network shows put into main characters over several seasons. The show, set in rural, modern-day Kentucky, offers a glimpse into what white trash really means. Timothy Olyphant plays U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens who periodically takes out that trash. Hands down makes other cop shows look silly.

Page 2 of 2 - “Supernatural” (CW)

Brothers Sam and Dean Winchester fight demons and all manner of monsters on their road trip across America. It’s sort of like Jack Kerouac meets Alfred Hitchcock as envisioned by Stephen King. Of course none of those guys have anything to do with the show, but their influence is all over the place. One of the few shows to survive the 2006 merger of fledgeling networks The WB and UPN, “Supernatural” has grown into a solid story about family, the good fight and the human condition.

“Person of Interest” (CBS)

This show by J.J. Abrams is better than the sum of its parts. I tuned in because I like Jim Caviezel. I have stuck around because the story is more original than any other outing on network TV right now. You see, this nerdy computer programmer invented a machine that can predict when a violent crime is about to happen. The government uses it to fight terrorism, but the programmer and a former-assassin-turned-altruistic badass, use information from the machine to bodyguard everyday people. The story has evolved from the typical adventure-of-the-week premise to an ensemble plot involving cops and spies in a twisting tale as the machine has recently shown itself to be self-aware.

A few others

The new SyFy show “Defiance,” as I mentioned last week, is quickly becoming a favorite. “Castle” is a guilty pleasure. I’ve watched “Dexter” since it debuted, but I’m ready to see it go. “The Big Bang Theory,” “Raising Hope” and “The Mindy Project” are my favorite sitcoms. I’m looking forward to the return of “Longmire” and “The Killing.” I pretend not to, but I pay attention when my wife and daughter watch “Revenge,” “Parenthood,” “Glee” and “Pretty Little Liars.”

Next week I’ll list some of the best books I’ve read and what they meant to me at the time I read them.

Contact Daily News Senior Reporter Lindell Kay at 910-219-8455 or lindell.kay@jdnews.com. Follow him on Twitter and friend him on Facebook @ 1lindell.